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COMMENTS
Identity Theft More Likely When Moving to a New Home
Aug 5th 2010 @ 1:20PM
If you're planning to buy a house, rent a different apartment or relocate your family anytime soon, chances are you didn't think that moving could make you the victim of identity theft. But during a move, homeowners and renters alike are particularly susceptible to identity theft -- a crime which is especially prevalent during the summer, since half of all moves in the United States take place between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
So in addition to packing and coordinating with the moving trucks, you also need to safeguard yourself from fraudsters.
"Regardless of what people say, you can't prevent ID theft. But you can be a lot more aware and take some strong precautions," says Steve Schwartz, executive vice president of consumer services for Intersections Inc., an identity protection company.
Schwartz provided a rundown of simple steps that you can take to minimize your risk of identity theft and maximize your safety and security before, during and after a move:
If you already own a house, you probably have a pretty good idea about the rights, responsibilities, and financial obligations of homeownership. And if your experience as a homeowner has been a generally positive one, you might have toyed with the idea of buying a second piece of property. 
If you're a cash-strapped homeowner, an offer to modify your mortgage or help you avoid 
The 
All-cash home purchases are growing significantly in the real estate market – thanks to tighter bank lending practices, repeat buyers who are opting to forgo the mortgage process, and investors gobbling up distressed real estate. 
